265: Hongdu Military Parade and Conferment Ceremony (2)

The lingering echoes of the gun salute still reverberated faintly over the city, and the air was filled with a light scent of gunpowder, blending into the solemn atmosphere.

On the square, hundreds of thousands of people held their breath, all eyes focused on the square's entrance.

"Wel—come—the Na—tional—Flag!"

Chen Hao's voice, as resonant as a bell, rang out once more, every word seemingly carrying the weight of a thousand catties.

Under the gaze of countless eyes, the National Flag Guard emerged slowly from the square's entrance like a moving, solemn scroll of interwoven bright red and dark green.

They wore ceremonial hats adorned with military emblems, crisp dark green dress uniforms, and golden sashes across their shoulders, their snow-white gloves firmly gripping polished steel rifles with fixed bayonets. At the front of the queue, the flag-bearer's arms were ramrod straight, holding high a giant, neatly folded Five-Star Red Flag, the golden spearhead at the top of the flagpole glinting with a sacred light in the morning sun. The flag-escorting formation followed closely behind, the officers' and soldiers' eyes as steady as steel and their steps as stable as mountains.

"March—forward!"

The heels of their military boots struck the granite ground, producing a uniform, soul-stirring "tap, tap" sound. This sound, like a giant's heartbeat, pounded in every corner of the square and in the heart of every spectator. The procession moved extremely slowly, yet it carried an unparalleled sense of majesty and power.

As the procession slowly approached the flag platform in front of the rostrum, the movements of the flag-bearer and the flag-escorts began to change.

"Goose—step—march!"

With one command, the entire formation's pace shifted instantly! Their kicks were like the wind, and their feet struck the ground like they were digging pits! Every time a leg was raised, the trouser line was as straight as a blade; every time a foot landed, it made a heavy, uniform thud, as if the earth itself were trembling. Simultaneously, the soldiers of the flag-escorting formation moved in such perfect unison they seemed like one person, shifting their steel rifles from their shoulders to a saluting position with a "shua" sound, their bayonets forming a forest of chilling steel in the morning light.

The flag-bearer swung his arms powerfully toward the front diagonal, and the folded national flag seemed to be endowed with life, unfurling with a "hula" in the wind! The vivid red and the brilliant five-pointed stars were dazzling in the morning light, snapping loudly!

The National Flag Guard finally stopped precisely in front of the flagpole's base. Two flag-escorts stepped forward quickly, hanging the national flag onto the flagpole's halyard with the most standard and swift movements. The flag-bearer personally threw out a corner of the flag and then took a step back, standing solemnly with the flag-escorting formation.

The entire square was now so quiet that the faint hum of distant rotors and the sound of the flag fluttering could be heard. Everyone straightened their backs—be they the officers on the stage, representatives from various military regions, honored guests, or the soldiers and citizens below, or even the commoners standing on tiptoe in the periphery—countless gazes closely followed that red flag.

"Play the National Anthem—Raise the National Flag—"

Chen Hao's voice carried loudly to every corner of the venue. As the stirring melody began, everyone in the venue held their breath; all those seated, whether officers or civilians, stood up quickly, saluted solemnly, and sang along to the national anthem.

The national flag began to rise slowly. It brushed through the cool morning air, passed the solemn body of the Monument to the Heroes, and climbed toward the blue sky and white clouds. That shade of red was so pure and so dazzling, as if it condensed all the sacrifices, all the hopes, and all the unyielding will of this land.

When the national flag reached the top of the pole and fully unfurled in the morning breeze, the melody of the national anthem reached its crescendo!

The singing ceased, but surging emotions stirred in everyone's chest. Many people had tear stains on their faces, but those were no longer tears of sadness, but of pride, of excitement, and the release of seeing hope and dignity after enduring tribulations!

Jiang Feifei stepped forward at the right time, her voice carrying a trace of imperceptible trembling due to excitement, yet sounding all the more sincere: "The flag-raising ceremony is concluded! Everyone, please be seated."

"Next, we proceed to the next item on the agenda of this ceremony—the military parade! Will Comrade Jiang Xin, Supreme Commander of the Red Alert Legion, and Comrade Zhang Lei, Deputy Commander, please review the troops!"

Jiang Xin and Zhang Lei looked at each other and stood up at the same time. They straightened their dress uniforms and, amidst deafening applause and cheers, stood side by side on the rostrum, waiting for the troops to be reviewed.

Chen Hao's voice rang out through the square's broadcast like a war drum: "The parade—begins!"

"Markers—withdraw!"

The markers, who had previously been pinned to various parts of the square like nails, once again used absolutely precise and uniform movements to retract their guns, turn, and march off the field, clearing the widest possible path for the reviewed troops.

The first to enter the square was the infantry phalanx, composed of a mix of three-star Conscripts, Riot Troopers, Snipers, Heavy Infantrys, Tesla Troopers, and Flametroopers from the Red Alert Legion.

The first phalanx consisted of Conscripts with assault rifles and vigorous steps; following them were the visibly burly Heavy Infantrys carrying anti-tank rocket launchers or heavy machine guns; then came the Riot Troopers in black combat gear, holding riot shields and combat knives; then the Snipers cradling Sniper rifles; then the Tesla Troopers in special insulated exoskeleton armor, firmly gripping lightning guns; and finally, the Flametroopers.

They marched in goose-steps, the sound of their boots hitting the ground rolling across the square like muffled thunderbolt, kicking up fine dust. "Shua! Shua! Shua!" The angle of their arm swings and the height of their leg lifts were perfectly consistent; whether viewed horizontally, vertically, or diagonally, they formed perfectly straight lines. Their gazes were as sharp as blades, looking straight ahead. That murderous aura condensed from surviving a hundred battles could make the spectating citizens feel a tremor in their hearts even from a distance, followed by an eruption of enthusiastic cheers.

Following closely behind for review was the mecha phalanx. Twenty Tier-1 "destroyer" mechas were arranged in four columns and five rows, forming a wall of steel as they rumbled forward with heavy, synchronized steps. Their gun-metal gray armor was incredibly thick, and the laser swords in their hands were daunting. Next were twenty "blaze" mechas, their bright yellow paint looking like burning flames in the sunlight; though the heavy flamethrowers on their backs were silent for now, no one doubted their destructive power. Finally, there were twenty "thunderbolt" mechas, their blue-purple armor shimmering with an eerie light, the lightning guns in their hands manifesting their power to control thunderbolt and lightning.

The footsteps of the mechas were low and heavy, accompanied by the unique "hissing" sounds of metal friction and hydraulic systems, blending into a symphony of power that made one's blood boil.